1
Volume 11, Issue 4
WINTER 2011/2012
The Arkansas Adult
Learning Resource
Center provides equal
access to all programs
and activities.
Arkansas Adult Learning
Resource Center
525 West Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 800-832-6242
501-907-2490
FAX: 501-907-2492
http://www.aalrc.org
Changes in works for adult schooling
By Sarah D. Wire, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (published January 1, 2012)
Continued on page 3
Because of Copyright issues, we are
Unable to publish this Article online.
If you would like to Receive a printed
Version of this Newsletter’s Edition
which includes the Arkansas
democrat Gazette Article, please feel
free to contact the Arkansas Adult
Learning Resource Center.
pg_0002
2
Adult Learning Network
Governor
Mike Beebe
State Board of
Career
Education
Director,
William L. “Bill"
Walker, Jr.
Division of
Rehabilitation
Services
Robert Trevino
Adult Education
Division
James H.
Smith, Jr.
Division of Career
& Technical
Education
Roderic
Duckworth
(interim)
Communications
Deborah
Germany
Human Resources
& Development
Pam Harris
Finance
Charles Brown
Calendar
All events are at the AALRC unless otherwise noted.
Professional Development/Events:
January
January 11 – LD 101- 152053
January 12 – LEA #2
January 18 – Budget Review - 152054
January 24 – AERIS New Users 101 - 152055
February
February 1-2 – LD Comprehensive (Session 4 -
rescheduled from December 6-7)
February 2 – Skills Assessment Manager (SAM) Training
Repetitive sessions: 1. session - AM
2. session - PM
February 3 – Skills Assessment Manager (SAM) Training
Repetitive sessions: 1. session - AM
2. session - PM
February 3 – WAGE
February 7 – Spring Admin Meeting - 152157
February 9-10 – Literacy Strategies (Assessment) -
Session 1 (days 1+2) - 152065
February 15 – AERIS 201- 152066
March
March 1-2 – Literacy Strategies (Assessment) -
Session 1 (days 3+4)
March 6-7 – Teaching with Manipulatives - 152067
March 29-30 – Literacy Strategies (Instructional Strategies)
Session 2 (days 1+2) - 152068
Teaching with Manipulatives Workshop Coming in March
The AALRC is again offering the Teaching
with Manipulatives workshop in March
2011. This 1½-day workshop is designed
as a follow-up workshop for anyone who
completed any of the LD 101 training (adult
education or literacy) or the LD Comp.
workshop.
Participants should already know
the basics of adults with learning disabili-
ties; e.g., definition, characteristics, typical
strategies and accommodations, etc.
The purpose of this workshop is to teach
adult education and literacy providers how to incorporate the use of manipulatives in
their instruction, no matter the content of the curriculum. Each person (not each pro-
gram) who completes this workshop will receive a kit that contains all of the materi-
als demonstrated and practiced during the 1½-day session – almost $250 worth of
classroom tools! For a complete list of the toolkit contents, go to
http://aalrc.org/
resources/ld/ld_workshops.pdf
, pp. 9-10.
TRAVEL
Reimburse-
ment
Local programs
funded with state
or federal adult
education funds
must adhere to
Arkansas
Department of
Finance and
Administration
guidelines when
requesting travel
reimbursement.
pg_0003
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Adult Learning Network
Changes in works for adult schooling
Continued from page 1
Continued on page 8
Because of Copyright issues, we are
Unable to publish this Article online.
If you would like to Receive a printed
Version of this Newsletter’s Edition
which includes the Arkansas
democrat Gazette Article, please feel
free to contact the Arkansas Adult
Learning Resource Center.
pg_0004
4
Adult Learning Network
News from the Disabilities Project Manager
Memory Strategies for Students with Learning Disabilities
Is your student having difficulty remembering what he or she learned from one class day to the
next. There are some helpful strategies discussed in an LD Online article at
http://
www.ldonline.org/article/5736
.
The article discusses a number of ideas, but it’s inter-
esting that the first strategy mentioned is to SLOW
DOWN. Students with learning disabilities may need
up to three times longer than other students to process
information, but often, the student is so anxious to
complete the adult education or literacy program that
they want to cram everything in as fast as they can,
which is not an effective learning strategy. I call this a
“learning binge," like eating half a gallon of ice cream
at one sitting. The more effective way to remember
what you’re learning is to slow down for processing, then drill and practice every day in-between
classes. Again, a little at a time is more effective. Students can set aside ten-minute “snack
times" for review, three or four times a day. If the student is primarily a visual learner, it may be
good for them to use flash cards or graphic organizers to review what they’re learning. For audi-
tory learners, anything on tape or set to music can be a great way to practice. Tactile-kinesthetic
learners should use some kind of manipulative to practice their skills, or at least include writing or
typing in their practice sessions.
While adult students may balk at the extra time needed for these brief learning “snacks," they will
quickly learn that they CAN remember what they’re learning if they remind themselves often
enough just what that is.
Online Referral Process Updated
The AALRC’s Learning Disabilities Diagnosis Referral Process for GED Accommodations was re-
cently updated to include new Woodcock-Johnson III test administrators and recent contact infor-
mation for WAIS-IV diagnosticians contracted with the AALRC. The referral process is available
at
http://aalrc.org/resources/ld/referralProcess.aspx
. There is also a link at the top of the webpage
to the document needed to request AALRC funding for WAIS-IV evaluations.
The referral process describes, in detail, the steps to take to refer a student for a learning disabili-
ties diagnosis. It includes an explanation of how to determine if a student is eligible for a referral
to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services for testing, or if the student should be referred to a private
psychologist under contract with the AALRC.
pg_0005
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Adult Learning Network
AALRC
Advisory
Committee
Janie Carter,
Chair,
Crossett
Emily Barrier,
Little Rock
Carrie Boden,
Little Rock
Richard
Hampton,
Texarkana
Becky Linsky,
Hot Springs
Tara Rice,
North Little
Rock
Gary
Udouj,
Vice-Chair,
Fort Smith
Ruth Ann
Williams,
Conway
Rights and Responsibilities of Students with Disabilities Brochure
Template Now Available
The University of Kansas Center for Re-
search on Learning, Division of Adult Stud-
ies, published a great resource in 2005
called, “Accommodating Adults with Dis-
abilities in Adult Education Programs." This publication is available online
at
http://das.kucrl.org/projects/accommodating-adults-with-disabilities-in-
adult-education-programs/
under “Projects Details."
Included in the publication is a tri-fold brochure
that gives a succinct overview of adult students
with disabilities rights and responsibilities in an
adult education or literacy program.
For years, I’ve been telling programs to use that
brochure as a template to make their own, tai-
lored to their own program. Recently I tried to do
that, and guess what – I couldn’t do it, because
it’s a .pdf file. Rats. So, my apologies to all of
you who tried to do the impossible.
The good news is that I just made my own in Microsoft Publisher, with spe-
cific program names, info, logos, and resource links. I did this as an exam-
ple for an adult education program during a pre-program review consulta-
tion, but I would be happy to share it with any other program that wants to
have their own. I’ll even help you tailor it to your own program’s informa-
tion, pictures, etc.
Contact me at
prwhite@madisoncounty.net
or call 800.569.3539 if you
want your own brochure. It’s a very helpful handout for students with dis-
abilities, and is a great start for the student to understand their rights and
responsibilities, as well as tips for self-advocacy and sample testing accom-
modations.
Need Help Preparing for the ADA Part of Your Program Review.
The AALRC’s Disability Project Manager, Patti White, is available to come
to your program and help you ensure your compliance with the ADA and
the LD Policy Manual before your program review – or after, if needed.
This type of on-site consultation usually takes only a couple of hours, and is
available to all Arkansas Adult Education and Literacy programs upon re-
quest. Just contact me at
prwhite@madisoncounty.net
or call
800.569.3539 to set up your consultation and ensure your ADA and policy
manual compliance.
News from the Disabilities Project Manager
pg_0006
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Adult Learning Network
AALRC Staff
Director
Marsha Taylor
___________________
Administrative
Assistant
Wanda Johnson
Professional
Development
Coordinator
Nancy Loftis
Media
Coordinator
Klaus Neu
Secretary
Toccara Baker
Information
Technology
Specialist
Rob Pollan
Disabilities
Project
Manager
Patti White
News from the Disabilities Project Manager
Taking the GED Tests One at a Time – Yes, for Students with Diag-
nosed Disabilities!
I’ve written about this before in the newsletter, but I’ve recently spoken
with a healthy number of teachers who were not aware that students with
diagnosed disabilities do not have to pass the whole GED Practice Test
before they start taking the GED Tests. The type of disability doesn’t mat-
ter; it just has to be diagnosed.
So for example, you have a student with a disability (LD, AD/HD, depres-
sion, epilepsy, etc.). That student can study in one content area – focus,
focus, focus, focus – then take that part of the GED Practice Test. When
they pass that part of the practice test, they can then take that same part
of the GED Tests. Then they move on to the next subject area.
None of the GED Tests will be scored until the student completes ALL of
the tests. But many students with disabilities have problems in the areas
of memory, organization, concentration, and critical thinking. This one-
subject-at-a-time approach to testing can be a vital accommodation for
some people with disabilities, so please be sure that all of your students
with disabilities know that this is an option.
Standing Up for Safer Environmental Chemicals
The Safer Chemicals Healthy Fami-
lies blog has an article about an Ar-
kansas educator who went to Wash-
ington D.C. to advocate for safer
chemicals in the environment. The
article is available online at
http://
blog.saferchemicals.org/2011/09/
learning-disabilities-advocate-joins-
the-fight.html
, and is a first-person
narrative by Tricia Smith, the director
of the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas. Ms. Smith met with
politicians, actress and advocate Jessica Alba, and other parents who
came to advocate for the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011.
There was an article in the AALRC newsletter about environmental toxins
in 2009 called “Toys with Lead Made in the U.S.." If you missed it the
first time around, it could be a good follow-up to the safer chemicals blog.
The article is available online at
http://aalrc.org/news/
newsletters/2009V2.pdf
, pp. 5-6. Another good resource for information is
the Healthy Children’s Project website at
www.healthychildrenproject.org
.
pg_0007
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Adult Learning Network
Tech
Talk
Note: To link to any web address (URL) in this newsletter, go to the AALRC's home page
at http://aalrc.org
, look up this newsletter, and then just click on the appropriate link.
Computer Tune-up
Switch Off
Save power and time by having your computers shut down at a certain time. Instead of going to
each computer in your lab and shutting it down individually, this program will automatically shut
down your computers for you. Please don’t leave your computers on all night, they will waste
electricity and parts will wear out faster. To download this simple and free program, go to
www.download.com
, in the search box on the webpage type in “switch off" (without the quotes)
and press enter. Install the program and set the time to automatically shut down.
Is your office computer running slow.
Are your lab computers full of
spyware. Are you still waiting for that
webpage to load. If so, we have a
deal for you.
For an unlimited time, we are now of-
fering free computer tune-ups for your
office and lab computers. And if you
act now, we’ll not only fix your
computer for free but any other
computer in your office too! That’s a
mega value!
We are prepared to make this offer not for $29.95, not for
$19.95, but for free! To take advantage of this incredible
offer call 1-800-832-6242, operators are standing by.
Restrictions and stipulations do apply – your computer
must be part of your programs inventory.
pg_0008
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Adult Learning Network
Changes in works for adult schooling
Continued from page 3
Because of Copyright issues, we are
Unable to publish this Article online.
If you would like to Receive a printed
Version of this Newsletter’s Edition
which includes the Arkansas
democrat Gazette Article, please feel
free to contact the Arkansas Adult
Learning Resource Center.